The story of a retired police officer who is, as it were, dying slowly with the ticking off the clock, the effect of an ailment he contracted while serving humanity in Sudan, made sad reading last week when it was broken by this newspaper.
We bet only a few stories can surpass the predicament of former DSP Daniel Kwaku Gyau as a disincentive to serving one�s country. Many policemen have read the story and are naturally posing the question �could this happen to me with the same repercussions including such a wanton neglect by the authorities?�
This is how disenchantments begin and gradually make it impossible to draw the desired output from personnel.
This situation has the propensity to discourage citizens, especially those in regimented agencies, from wanting to die for their country.
The retired DSP served the country for decades and proceeded to represent her in the coalition of nations under the flag of the UN in Sudan where, as the story has it, he escaped death when the aircraft on which he was travelling on official duties made a forced landing.
He developed a life-threatening health condition diagnosed as high blood pressure and a related illness which have now emptied his purse.
Police officers, soldiers and public officers would work their hearts out to the point of death only when they are convinced beyond skepticism that should there be any health eventuality, they can count on the support of the state and also their contribution recognised.
On the other hand, when the reverse is the case as in the case of the subject matter under review, we are sure going to witness a halfhearted approach to the discharge of duties by these personnel.
Under such circumstances, the country would suffer negative fallouts in terms of galvanizing support for national causes. We are therefore seriously concerned about the plight of the gentleman against the backdrop of the lackluster response, if at all, from government or the relevant authorities.
Equally disturbing is the claim by the patient, and we do not have cause to doubt his integrity, that the Police Council which has been petitioned on the issue, is yet to respond.
With the near-death situation the retired the police officer is in now, an immediate response would be the most humane thing to do and we urge the authorities to do just that.
If Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng states with constraint whether or not to die for Ghana in public office, he is only venting the travails he suffered at the hands of persons at the helm of the country he served with all his heart, one to which he belongs as a citizen.
He spoke for many public officials including the retired and dying police officer. Let the conscience of those at the helm be pricked by the travails of the man and act speedily to save him from imminent and avoidable death. The time to do so is now. We are watching.
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